Refrigerator



July 2, 1929. A, A KUCHER y 1.719.808

REFRIGERATOR l Filed July 10, 1925 5 sheets-sheet l @@Q@ @@Q@ @@@Q @@@CU 35@ 0.o@ @C C) 32 5l 'O OA/ITNES Si V I INVENTOR y BY/wd ATTORNEY A. A. KUCHER REFRIGERATOR.

July 2, l1929.

3 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 1o, 1925 A.A .Kucber mvENToR WITNESS 1 ATTORNEYA July 2, 1929.

A. A. KUCHER REFRIGERATOR Filed July l0, 19255 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR v.1Q BY l f l ATTORNEY Patented July .2, 192.9.

UNITED STATES e 1,719,308 PATENT' OFFICE.

ANDREW A. 'RUSS-HER, OFJCHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & IANUFACTURING COMPANY, A. CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

' :eErnIGEnATonl Application mea July- 1o,

. My inventionfrelates" to refrigerating nia-' chmes, particularly to small capacity mal cllines of the compression type which are suitable for household use and `it has for an object to provide apparatus of the charac-ter designated which shall include .simple and effective means for compensating for the working Huid which may escape from the condensing chamber, and for exhausting the air which may enter the condensing chamber. Furthermore, it has for an object to provide a brine tank which may be' readily removed from the refrigerator box and which has associated therewith an evaporator of such design as to provide a maximum amount of heat-absorbing surface consistent With the space occupied.

These and other objects, Which Will be, made apparent throughout the further description ofthe invention, may be attained by the employment ofthe apparatus hereinafter described and illustrated inthe accompanying'draw'ings in which: Fig. 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of a compression refrigerator in which my invention may be practiced: yFig'. 2 .is a plan View taken on t-he line II-Ilof Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a lplan in section taken on the line III-III of Fig.. 1; Fig. 4 is a view in sectional elevation of a preferred type of evhaporator and Figs. 5 and 6 show alternative types of construction for housing the motor and the compressor.

Refrigerators having the motor and the compressor tightly encased Within the con- (lensing chamber h ave, in some instances, been provided with suitable access means for permitting periodic inspection of .the motor.

However, from continued removal of the ac-- cess means, .therel results eventuall a considerable loss of Working Huid, Whic vusually cannot be compensated vfor except 'by recharging the machine in the original way.-

In my improved apparatus, provision is made for inserting Within the condensing chamber, upon removal ofthe access means,l such additional Working fluid as is required v to compensate for that lost incident to each inspection of the motor. Furthermore, adequate provision is made for removal of the air admitted. In` this manner, a machine may be operated indefinitely, Without incurring any substantial loss of Working Huid. In addition thereto, the brine tank in my apparatus is so 'constructed and arranged as ratus illustrated and herein described is em- 1923. Serial No. $50,667.

to be capable* of being easily. removed from I 1 believe, provides a maximum amount ofl heat transfer surface consistent with `the space' occupied.

Referring to the drawingsor a morefdet-ailed description of my inventiomyl show the Ycondensing chamber of a4 refrigerator of a type disclosed in my copending application, serially numbered 509,672,1iled October 22. 1921, and entitled Refrigeration machine, It is to be understood, however, that my invention maybe practiced in other types of compression machines and that the appaployed by Way'of example and as anl aid in presenting a clear exposition of my invention. As illustrated, 10 designates a portion of a refrigerator box. Supported thereon is a condensing chamber p11, surrounded by a casing 12 composed of material similar' to that of the' outside portions lof the refrigerator box.' This casing considerably'improves the l appearance 'of the apparatus and makes inaudible the rather small amountof operating noise. The condensing chamber 11 comprises a 'bell or dome 13 secured to a base plate 14 as by bolts 15. Disposed Within the, condensing chamber 11 and supported upon the base plate 14 is a motor 16 provided with 95 a casing'l?. A p'ortable plate 18 is suspended by bolts 19 from the base plate 14 and permits access to the motor casing. Supported upon `the portable plate-18 is a plurality of commutator brushes 21 and a receptacle 22. Cur- 10o rent is supplied through a control panel 23,

`which is housed Within and supported from the casing 12, to the .conduits 24 and thence through fluid-tight plugs 25 to the motor.

superimposed upon the motorcasing 17 is 105 a compression mechanism y20 of the type dis-f closed in my copending application, serially numbered 599,019', filed November 4, 1922,

and entitled.Refrigerating apparatus. It i.

1s composed principally ofv a rotor 26 and a 110 casing 27. The rotor 26 is connected to the motor by means of ashaft 28. An end sealing plate 29, Which is subjectto the discharge pressure of the compression mechanism, is

provided. A Weak spring 31 and a pin 32v help maintain the sealing plate 29 in axial alignment and guard against displacement during shipment of the apparatus. A check ing a back How of' the refrigerant -vapor dur;J

valve 33 is provided in the discharge passage of the compression mechanism for preventinlet connection 36 and an outlet connection (not shown) which pass Without the chamber.

' Provision is made for connecting flexible hose v37 to these connections for conveying a cooling medium from some extraneous source.

Disposed within the refrigerator box 10 is an evaporator 38 Which communicates through the conduit'39- with the condensingr chamber 11 for the passage of liquid Working fiuid. The iiow of the lliquid through the conduit 39 is controlled by means of a reducing valve 41. The reducinirj,` valve 41 is actuated .l by a float mechanism composed of metal bands-42 secured to a float 43 composed of some suitable materialsuch as Wood. The wood may `be covered with a phenolic condensation productz44- which I have found is .impervious to such refrigerants as ethyl chloride. It is generally agreed that a AWooden float is cheaper to manufacture than one-fabricated from metal butl it -issubject to the objection, however, that'eventually the Wood becomes saturated with the liquid, re-

sulting in an alteration of its specific gravity. By applying a heavy coating of the character indicated to the Wood, it is unaffected by the surrounding liquid, and performs equally as well as the more costly metal floats.'

Disposed within the evaporator 38 isfa vapor outlet conduit 45 having vits inlet end 46 disposed above the "level of the' liquid working fluid and having a portion thereof 47 disposed well below the level of the liquid. In this portion, a small aperture 48 is provided for the admission of a limited quantity of 'liquid working fluid into the refrigerant vapor. The remaining portion of the conduit 45 isr formed into a^coi`l 49 which com-.

municates with the return conduit 51, 7`The return conduit 51 is arranged cocentrically without the supplyy conduit 39, thereby eliminating unnecesasry joints.

lngV chamber.

It rigidly supports ythe evaporator 39 from the condens The "return conduit 51. com-J municates with the inletport of the compression mechanism through .the passage 52. It further communicates with the interior of the motorfcasing 17 throughsa passage 53 for the removal therefrom of refrigerant vapor by suitable brackets /63. drawers 64 for the manufacture of' ice'are proand liquid working fluid which may leak into the same. A check valve 54 is provided in evaporator 38. A depending flange sur' rounds the evaporator and extends within the tank to reduce vthe possibility` of spilling brine. by moving the refrigerator. plurallty of hoo'ks 58 engage tlie upper surface of' the box by means of' the nuts 59 and sleeves 61. They may be freely rotated by hand and support two rods or shafts 62, 'Whichare secured to the upper surface of the brine tank A plurality of vided Within the brine tank.

The operation of the apparatus thus described is as follows: The condensing chamber 11 and theevaporator 38 are filled to a level, such as indicated ,o'n the drawing, With a suitable working fluid. VThe Working fluid generally employed in my apparatus is a combination of a refrigerant and a lubricant which'readily mix one with the other to-form ahomogeneous mixture or physical solution and which I disclosed in a copending application of mine serially numberedl7.844, filed' yso February 8, 1923 and entitled Refrigerators. This'working fluid is of such character 'that its constituents are not separable mechanically but only by vaporization. The

tank 5 5 filled to a level, `such as indicated,y

with brine.A

' Uponstarting the motor 16, the compression mechanism 20 discharges past the check valve 33v intothe condensing chamber 11 a refrigerant vapor having entrained therein a quantity of liquid of high lubricating quality. The refrigerant vapor is condensed upon the Coils 35, through which is being circulated a cooling medium, and falls to the lower portion of the condensing chamber. Upon sufficient accumulationof liquid Working fluid in the condensing chamber, thefi'oat 43 will move to open the reducing valve 41 to permit the liquid to flow through the conduit 39 to the evaporator 38. Cold is then produced in normal manner by the absorption ot' heat from the brine in the brine tank'jand the vaporization of. the refrigerant contained in the liquid workingfiuil. The brine in turn `absorbs heat from the relatively warm refrigerator box, and, upon sufficient reduction in temperature therein, automatic def vices provided wlthin the-control panel E23,v

amountcof liquid working Huid enters the about 909, whereupon the 'tankmay be low'- conduit throu h the aperture 48 and becomes ered free of the evaporator 38`and removed entrained in t erefrigerant vapor. The re.- \rom the box. This permits of athorough. frigerant vapor having entrained therein a cleansing of the outer surface of the evaporasmall quantity of liquid working fluid passes tor, upwardly through the coil 49 and absorbs may decrease its heat con ucting qualities.

additional heat. This additional heat is sufli- AsY it is very desirable to maintainthe intecient to vaporize ofl' most of t-he refrigerant rior of refrigerator boxes lof this type in a' 'present in the entrained `liquid andv consehighly pleasing and sanitary condition, I y vapor. which` enters have found the above arrangement to be a 75 quently the refrigerant .the return conduit 51 has entrained therein a very valuable one.

quantity of liquid of high lubricating lqual- Fig. 4 illustrates a preferredfform of eva/pity. This mixed vapor and liquid is drawn orator which I may employ in -lieu of thatv upwardly through the passage 52 by the comshown in `Fig. A1. It comprises inner and pression mechanism an the liquid serves to outer coils 70 and 71 having a cylindrical 80 lubricate the working parts of the lat/terin chamber 72 disposed centrally therein. Each passing therethrough. This completes the coil communicates at its respective ends with cycle of operation which ma then be re,- the cylinder 72. Liquid working fluid is suppeated. A very effective en seal for thepliedl through the conduit 39, as in Fig. 1, to compression mechanism is maintained by the the lower portion of the cylinder'. The re;q 85 plate 29, which 4is subject to 4the discharge frigerant vapor generated in vboth the cylin pressure. vIf at any time,\an amount of liquid der and the coil is removed'through the conin excess of the volumetric displacement of duit 73 which has provided therein, below thev the compressor should attempt to pass level of 4the'li uid, a small aperture 74 for through, the excess liquid is relieved between the entrainmen of liquid Working fluid. The 90 the'plate 29 and the end faceof the rotor 26, conduit 73 has a coiled portion 75 for the thereby avoidingsto'ppage of the motor. vaporization of the refrigerant contained in If in the course of operation, it becomes the entrained liquid. i X advisable to inspect the commutat'or brushes Figs. 5and 6 show'different types of conof the motor, the bolts\19 ma be removed struction for'housing the motor and the com- 95' andthe plate 18, together Wit -the brushes presso'r. Fig. 5 comprises abase plate 80 hav- '2l which yare supported thereon, lowered. 'lng the motor casing 81 supported thereon.' If found necessary, new brushesmay be in-v A casing for the compressor 82 is supported -stalled `and the plate replaced. 'During the lupon the `motor.casing and has cast integral removal of the plate, hoWever,-the refriger- 'therewith anuppe'r bearing 83 for the driv- 100 ant lvapor presentl in'lthe motor casin l17 ing shaft. ln Fig.` 6, the motor and comescapes tothe outside atmosphere-andv ere pressor casing are provided in acommon castisan inrush of air. To compensate for the ing 91.' An intermediate bearing plate 92 be added at that time as is required to com- "c Should lost "refrigerant, the receptacle 22 may be is provided between the motor and the comilled to the required level with liquid refrigerant and, upon the late 18 being replaced tight joint with the casting 91. An end plate and the motor starte the air present in the 94 is provided for the compressor.

motor casing will be withdrawn through the While I have shown my invention in sev-` opening 53.4 Upon sufncien't reduction in the eral forms, it will be obvious'to those v'skilled pressure prevailing within the motor casing, in the art that it is Vnot so limited, but is susthe liquid refrigerant contained in the repepeeptible of various other changes and modifitcle- 22 vaporizes and thereby compensates cations without departing from the spirit for the refrigerant vapor lost during the inthereof, and I desire,therefore,"that `only y spection of the commutator brushes. The air fsuch limitations shall be` placed fthineupon as .drawn in by vthe compressor is discharged are imposed by the prior art-orasare specifi- ,115 into the condensing chamber, wherein it rlses cally setv forth inyvthe appended claims.

to the up er portion and ma be purged of What I claim is-`l.;l

through t e valve 34.I With t e above appa` 1. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combiratus, not onlymay sufiicient refrigerant benation of an evaporator, a condenser, a cominserted to compensate forA the losses menpressor having suction and dischargeports, afl-Q0 tioned above, but such additional Huid may; casing communicatin L'with the suction port of thecompressor, an a removable receptacle disposed within the casing' for receivinga quantity of vaporizable liquid refrigerant.

'2. ,In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an evaporator, a compressor hav'- ingsuctionand discharge orts, -a condenser communicating with', the" discharge 'y ports, a 'casing communicating with the suction ports,

pensate for all prior losses which may have occurred during the normal operation of the apparatus. i f- I it become advisable at any, timeto, thoroughly cleanse and recharge the brine tank 55, it may be readily removed vfrom the refrigerator box 10 by raising it slightl upL ward and turning the' supportingf hoo 58 thereby freeing it of an material which l70 presser, a suitable gasket 93 making a fluid- 1 05.

means interposed between the compressor and i frigerant, W ereby vapor-ization of the liquid refrigerant and its transmission to the condenser may be effected. l r

3. In a refrigerating apparatus the combination of anevaporator, a compressor for removing refrigerant vapor from the evaporator, a means for condensing refrigerant vapor discharged by the compressor, a motor for driving the compressor a fluid tight housing for the motor, a removable container disposed within ,the motor housing for receiving ar yvaporizable liquid refrigerant, and communieating means provided between the motor housing and the inlet of the compressor, whereb vap'orization ofthe liquid refrigerant an its transmission to the condensing means may be effected. f

4. Ina refrigerating apparatus,the combination of an evaporator, a compressor for removing refrigerant .vapor f rom the evapora-` tor, a chamber for condensing refrigerant vapor discharged by they compressor, a motor for driving the compressor, a fluid tight housing for the motor, removable access means provided in the motor housing, a container disposed within the motor housing for receivinga quantity of vaporizable 'liquid refrigerant, --air outlet means provided in the condensing chamber, and communicating means provided between the motor housing and the inlet of the compressor, whereby vaporization of the liquid refrigerant and the transmission of air and refrigerant vapor to the-condensing chamber may be effected. v

`5. In a refrigerating apparatus,the combination o-f -a'condensin'g chamber, a motor and a compressor disposed within the condensing chamber, a casing for the motor, said casing containing refrigerant vapor, an-opening in the casing, a closure for the opening, a container disposed within the motor casing for receiving liquid refrigerant, communicating'ineans between the motor casing and the `inlet port of thecompressor for removing air admittedv to the casing and for vaporizing the liquid refrigerant within he container,

said compressor discharging into the con? comy for purging off :air discharged bytheY compressor. 6. In a refrigerating apparatus, the comconduit for conveying the refrigerant iuid to the evaporator, means for controlling the and a float for actuating the controlling means, said fioat having lts outer surfacesv composed of a phenolic'condensation product. 7 In a refrigerating apparatus in which` a refrigerant fluid consisting of an intimate mixture of a refrigerant land a lubricantis. l

employed, the combination of an evaporator including a coiled conduit'and a' substantially straight i.conduit of relatively large bore, means for passing liquid orking fluid through the coiled conduit and through the straight `conduit, means for conveyin duit to the straight conduit, refrigerant vapor the Y refrigerant vapor generated in the coile con-` 'p 80` outlet means provided in the straight conduit,

and means for entraining a quantity of liquid Ving non-(operation of the compressor, and 1 means provlded -1n the condensing chamber bination of a condenslng chambercontaining- A, a body of refrigerant fluid, an evaporator, -a I working fluid in the refrigerant vapor passing through said outlet means.

8. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an evaporator, a condenser, a conipressor having suction and discharge ports,

va motor fordriving the compressor, a iuid' tight housing for the motor, removable access means provided in themotor housing, a container disposedv within the motor housing for receiving a quantity of vaporizable liquid .refrigerant, air outlet means communicating with the discharge port of the comfrcssbr, and communicating means provided between the motor housing and the inlet port of the compressor.

In testimony whereof, lI have hereunto subscribed .my name this 2nd day of July 1923. A. KUCHER.

.65 -flow of the refrigerant fluid to the evaporator,` 

